A once sterile Victorian Terrace was revitalized, now brimming with warm, characterful accents, replacing the former stark, shiny white interior.
Swapping the secluded log cabin on a forested acreage in Canada for a Victorian townhouse in bustling southwest London? That's a heck of a lifestyle transformation, to say the least. And that's precisely what Krista Hargrave and her family experienced when her husband's job moved them to the city.
"Let me tell ya, it was a culture shock," Krista chuckles, as she reflects on their move amid the hustle and bustle of London's busy streets. "Our kiddos were just six, five, and three, and they'd never even walked on a busy road before. We opted for a leafy, gentrified area, giving ourselves space to adjust and making escapes to the countryside when needed."
Once they knew the shift was permanent, they bought a modern home with four floors, previously renovated fifteen years prior.
The townhouse boasts an open-plan kitchen-dining-living area on the ground floor, complemented by a cinema room, utility room, gym, and a basement. The first floor houses the master bedroom, bathroom, and a dressing room-turned-office, while the children's bedrooms and a family bathroom occupy the top floors.
At first glance, the house seemed perfect for their family, but Krista yearned for a design that felt more like home. "It was antithetical to our dream home, with its shiny white kitchen, cold walls, and hard edges," she bemoans. "We'd originated from a cozy country-style dwelling, and this felt soul-less, though perfectly livable."
She dreamt of a modern-rustic aesthetic with subtle 1970s influences, coupled with a functional layout for their multi-generational family. Run For The Hills, an award-winning design house, was brought in to make her vision come alive.
"With its fluid design, the house was great for us, but design-wise, it couldn't have been more different from our desired aesthetics," explains Krista. "These design ninjas breathed life into our ideas, creating a kitchen awash with wood, stylish banquette seating, and a chestnut-hued retro sofa."
Adding further 1970s touches, black leather bar stools, armchairs, and a leathered granite kitchen work surface were incorporated. Drawing inspiration from Krista's love for the 70s, the designers subtly interwove retro vibes while expertly balancing functionality.
Color-wise, opting for a monochromatic palette was Krista's biggest challenge. But Run For The Hills showed her that by using subtle variations in shades, spaces could flow harmoniously, segueing seamlessly from one to the next.
In the end, Krista and her family embraced the bustle of city life, grateful to call their urban dwelling home. "With the help of Run for the Hills, we've created a space that's a perfect mix of vintage and modern design, providing a warm and cozy home. Now, with life taking its course, we're not planning on going anywhere."
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- Krista Hargrave's family, previously residing in a log cabin, found themselves in a busy Southwest London townhouse, a stark contrast to their rural lifestyle.
- In the city, they chose a leafy, gentrified area, providing space for adjustment and allows for occasional countryside escapes.
- The family bought a modern townhouse with four floors, previously renovated fifteen years prior, but it lacked the rustic, country-style aesthetic that Krista desired.
- Recognizing this, Krista wished for a modern-rustic aesthetic with subtle 1970s influences and a functional layout for their multigenerational family.
- To make her vision come alive, Krista hired Run For The Hills, an award-winning design house, who brought her ideas to life.
- The designer's transformed the kitchen into a wood-centric space with stylish banquette seating, a chestnut-hued retro sofa, and black leather bar stools.
- The bathroom and furniture were updated to reflect the 1970s vibe, including armchairs and a leathered granite kitchen work surface.
- To harmonize the spaces, Run For The Hills employed a monochromatic color palette, using subtle variations in shades to seamlessly connect one space to the next, creating a cozy, vintage-modern home for Krista and her family.
